Pipeline coating and wrapping machine



Filed Jan. 25, 1954 E. L MYRICK PIPELINE COATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flv'z'n L Mayr'z'clf BY Filed Jan. 25, 1954 E.L. MYRICK mam PIPELINE COATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. [/z/in Z, Myrzcif W Z MM/ E. L. MYRICK 2,770,28%

PIPELINE COATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25,1954 m 13, 1956 E. L. MYRHCIK fi v PIPELINE COATING AND WRAPPING MACHINEFiled Jan. 25, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O PIPELINEC(DATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Elvin L. Myriclr, Ebensburg, Pa.Application January 25 1954, Serial No. 405,939

6 Claims. (Cl. 154-41) This invention relates to machines for coatingand wrapping cross country pipelines.

Many machines for this purpose have heretofore been proposed. Such amachine usually includes crawler means for propelling it forwardly alongthe pipeline, means for applying a corrosion resistant coating ofspecified thickness to the pipeline, and means for spirally wrapping oneor more layers of protective strip material over the coating. However,because of the many problems to be solved in producing a machine ofsatisfactory and effective operation, many available machines aresubject to disadvantages.

It will be apparent, for instance, that operation of the crawler meansand the wrapping means should be so synchronized that a correct ratiobetween the pitch of the spirally wrapped material and the distance themachine travels during each revolution of the wrapping means will bemaintained. It is also highly desirable that no slippage of the crawlermeans occur since any such slippage will upset such ratio. However, itis very difficult to guard against slippage, especially since pipelinesfreely travel over rough and uneven terrain with long steep grades.Another requirement which is difiicult to attain is that the wrappingmaterial must be applied at a uniform tension.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pipeline coating andwrapping machine having a crawler means adapted to produce several timesthe tractive power of presently available machines whereby the machineis capable of travelling without slippage over terrain of substantiallyany roughness that may be encountered and including grades at least assteep as 45 degrees.

Another object is to provide a machine of this type wherein the drive ofthe crawler means and wrapping means is so coupled that the correctratio between the pitch of the spirally wrapped material and thedistance that the machine travels during each revolution of the wrappingmeans is positively maintained.

Another object is to provide braking means for continuoously andaccurately controlling the tension at which the wrapping material isapplied.

Another object is to provide means for mounting the wrapper spool armswhereby such arms may withstand shocks and automatically return to theircorrect position following dislodgment therefrom.

Another object is to provide means for automatically bringing workingparts up to operating temperature and for controlling that temperaturewithin fixed limits.

- Another object is to provide increased machine stability whereby noexternal force is required to balance the machine.

Other objects include reduction of the number of machine parts toachieve greater simplicity of construe tion, reduced cost of m nufactureand greatly reduced overall weight.

These and other objects, details and advantages will become apparent asthis description proceeds with particular reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure l is an elevation of one side of a machine inaccordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an elevation of another side of the machine,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine,

Figure 4 is an elevation of one end of the machine,

Figure 5 is an elevation of the other end of the machine,

Figure 5a is a perspective view of the main frame of the machine,

Figure 5b is a perspective view of the crawler carriage, a number of thewheels thereof being omittted for simplification of illustration,

Figure 6 is a partial sectional View of the coating shoe,

Figure 7 is a partial elevational view of a detail of the coating shoe,

Figure 8 is a sectional transverse elevation of the crawler means,

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wrapper spool andsupporting arm,

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view of the wrapper spool, and

Figure 11 is a sectional detail view of the spool supporting arm andrelated mounting means.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a main frame Iltl whichis preferably fabricated as a unit and which includes a storage tank 11for coating material and three spaced frame members l2, l3 and 14extending upwardly therefrom and each having a respective, alignedopening 12a, 13a, li-a therein for passage therethrough of a pipelineindicated at 15. The frame 10 is supported on the pipe by means of apair of rollers 16 on each of members 13 and 114, such rollers servingto carry the weight of the machine and to hold the latter in alignmenton the pipe.

The machine is adapted to travel in the direction of the arrow shown inFigure l, and thus ring 14 is the forward or leading portion of theframe and ring 12 the rearward or trailing portion of the frame.Furthermore, for the purpose of the ensuing description, the termsforward and rearward will be employed to indicate positions with respectto the direction of travel of the machine.

The crawler carriage is indicated at 17 and comprises a pair of annularend plates or rings 18 and an intermediate or center ring 19 connectedtogether by a plurality of longitudinally extending bars 20. On each ofthe interior surfaces of each bar between each adjacent pair of rings 18and 19 is mounted a bracket 21 in which is journalled a rubber-tiredwheel 22. Each bracket is preferably connected to a bar 20 by means of asingle bolt 23 whereby its angularity (and that of its wheel 22) may beadjusted with respect to the bar 20. Thereafter the brackets are rigidlylocked in place as by a tack weld or the like. As shown in Figure 8, thewheels 22 project inwardly from the rings 18 and 19 to frictionallyengage the surface of pipe 15. in the structure described, 16 wheels 22are provided and it will be apparent that they provide great tractivepower. While the number of wheels 22 may vary, it is preferable that notless than 12 be employed in order to achieve the desired tractive power.The periphery of the center ring 19 is provided with teeth 24 toconstitute a drive sprocket for the carriage.

The carriage 17 is revolvably mounted in the main frame 10 betweenmembers 13 and 14 by means of a plurality of rollers 25 rotatablymounted on each of frame members 13 and 14. Each roller 25 has a groovedperiphery engaging the periphery of a respective end ring 18. It will beapparent that revolution of the carriage will propel'it and the frame 10along the pipeline by reason of the angular disposition of the wheels22. Means for applying a corrosion resistant coating to the pipecomprises a coating shoe 26 consisting of an annular container 27 havingan irnperforate forward wall 23 and a perforate rearward wall 29, theinner peripheries of which Walls are arranged to engage the surface ofpipe 15. Fixed to container 27 and spaced rearwardly therefrom is amaterial spreading ring 31 the periphery of which is spaced from thesurface of pipe 15' a predetermined distance. The shoe 26 is positionedbetween frame members 12 and 13 in adjacent spaced relation to member13. In order that the shoe may be held in close but yieldable engagementwith the pipe, it is preferably formed of a plurality of Segments 26ahinged together at 31 and resiliently suspended fro-m the frame by meansof a pair of cables or the like 32 which extend through an outwardlyextending lug 33 on each segment 26a.

As shown in Figure 5, the end portions of the cables 32, followingpassage through lugs 33, cross each other above the shoe and extend overgrooved pulleys 34- and downwardly, each pair of ends being fastened toa link 35. Each link 35 is in turn connected to one end of a shortlength of cable 36 which extends over a pulley 37 and has its other endconnected through a turnbuckle 38 to a flat spring 39 mounted on themain frame. It will thus be apparent that a spring loading is imposed oncables 32 to ensure that the walls 28 and 29 engage the pipe at alltimes. Drag chains 40 connect each side of the shoe 26 to frame member13 to pull it forward with the frame as it travels forward on thepipeline.

Coating material is supplied to the annular container 27 of the shoe 26through an inlet 41 at the top thereof and by means of a pipe 42 leadingfrom a flow pump 43, which in turn pumps liquid material 44 from tank 11through pipe connection 45. Pump 43 is controllable in the usual mannerto supply coating liquid to the shoe 26 in any desired volume. Thus, avalve 96 may be provided in the pump connection to pipe 42, such valvebeing operable by a lever 95, extending across the tank 11 and having ahandle 97 readily accessible to an operator on the operators stand 98.

It will be apparent that, with the container 27 filled with coatingliquid, a complete bath of such liquid surrounds and engages thepipeline in this area. The liquid flows through perforate wall 29 andout of the clearance space between ring 3%) and the pipeline thusleaving a film of coating material on the pipeline after the shoe 26 haspassed on. Excess coating material flows back into the tank 11 butcoating material is supplied to the shoe at a rate slightly in excess ofthat at which it can escape from the trailing ring 30.

A supply of coating material is maintained in tank 11 at any desiredlevel by means of an intake pump 46 mounted on the tank, such pump beingprovided with a pipe or hose connection 47 leading to a source of supply(not shown).

It will be apparent that the thickness of the coating applied to thepipeline will depend upon the temperature of the coating material (and,therefore, its viscosity) as it is applied to the pipeline. In order tobring working parts up to operating temperature and control suchtemperature, each pump 43 and 46 is preferably immersed in a bath 43 ofheat transfer oil or the like provided in an enclosing container 49.Eachbath 48 is maintained at any desired temperature by a conventionalthermostatically controlled immersion 'heater fiitl. It will thus beapparent that the temperature of the coating liquid may be quicklybrought up to the desired operating degree and maintained at any suchdesired temperature by circulation through the pump. it will be apparentthatthe heat-transfer bath may be extended to include portions of thecoating shoe to provide additional means for bringing such parts up tooperating temperature.

he wrappingmechanism is generally indicated at 51 and comprises anannular wheel or ring 52 rotatably mounted on frame member 12 by meansof rollers 53 which engage the inner periphery of wheel 52. Suitabledriving sprocket means such as a chain 54 is mounted on the outerperiphery of wheel 52. The wrapper wheel carries one to four wrapper armassemblies 54a, as required. Each assembly 54a comprises a central arm55 one end of which is pivotally mounted on the wheel 52 by means of thebracket 56. Rotatably mounted on the arm 55 is a wrapper roll receivingspool comprising a pair of end discs 57 each having an axial hub 58sleeved upon the arm. Each hub 58 has external ribs adapted to engagethe core 6% of a roll 61 of paper or like wrapping material and toprevent relative turning movement of the roll. It will be apparent thatthe roll a 61 is thereby rotatably mounted on the arm 55. 'A latch 62 isprovided on the free end of arm 55 to lock the outer disc 57 and roll 61in place on the arm.

Braking means for the rotatably mounted roll is provided and, as shownin Figures 9 and 10, comprises a brake drum 63 journalled on the arm 55adjacent the inner disc 57. Fixed to the lateral surface of the drum area pair of radially extending spring fingers 64, each of which carries adog 65 for engagementt With respective openings 66 in the inner disc 57,thereby connecting the drum to the roll 61 for rotation therewith. Abrake shoe 67 is pivotally mounted on an eccentric portion 68 of a pin69 carried by a brake cover 70 also journalled on the arm 55. The shoe67 is engageable with the brake drum flange in the usual manner to applybraking pressure thereon. It will be apparent that initial adjustment ofthe shoe with respect to the flange may be made by rotation of the brakeshoe pin 69, the eccentric portion 68 thereof acting to adjust itsposition with respect to the flange.

Means for actuating the shoe 67 to apply braking pressure to the drumcomprises a spring-loaded link such as a flexible cable 7011 connectedto the free end of the shoe and extending over a roller 70b to anoperating lever 71 pivoted to the brake cover. Fixed to the lever 71 andswingable therewith is a rod 72 having an angular portion 73 arranged toride lightly upon the outer surface of the roll 61, as shown. It will beapparent that, with a full roll of paper on the arm 55, the rider rod 72will exert through lever 71 and linkage 70 a predetermined maximumdegree of braking pressure on the drum 63. As the roll unwinds and thediameter thereof decreases, less braking action is needed to maintainthe same tension on the wrapping web indicated at 61a. The roll rider72, held in contact with the outer surface of the roll by thespring-loaded link '70, swings down towards the arm 55 and the tensionin the link 70 is gradually released. This action relieves the pressureof the brake shoe on the drum in proportion to the decrease in thediameter of the roll 61. Uniform tension is thus automaticallymaintained at all times on the web 61a.

Means for setting and maintaining the wrapper arms and rolls at adesired angle to the wrapper wheel is provided and comprises, for eacharm, a bracket 74 carried by supporting straps 75 fixed to wheel 52. Thebracket 1 carries a V-shaped rod 76 which embraces a portion of arm 55adjacent its pivoted ends and constitutes a guide therefor. A plate 77slidably carried by rod 76 is resiliently urged into engagement with oneside of arm 55 by means of springs 78 also carried by rod 76; A setscrew 79 carried by bracket 74 engages the opposite side of arrnSS. Itwill be apparent that the set screw 79 may be adjusted to vary theangularity of arm 55 (and roll 61). Moreover, the. springs 78 constitutemeans for absorbing shocks which may be applied to the arm 55 and forpermitting the arm to move out of position when it encountersobstructionjwhile ensuring automatic return of the arm to its properposition,

A seal ring 80 is carried by'frame member 13 and engages the pipetoprotect the carriage from coating assists in directing excess coatingmaterial back into the tank.

Driving means for the machine includes a driven shaft 82, which isdriven from any suitable source of power, such as a motor 83, and whichis mounted on an auxiliary frame 84 carried by the main frame 10. Shaft82 has fixed thereto a sprocket 85 connected by chain 86 to the carriagesprocket 24. Shaft 82 is connected through a pair of universal joints 87and an expansion shaft 88 to a shaft 89. Shaft 39 passes through apivoted bearing stand 90 which is spring-loaded at 91. Fixed to shaft 89is a sprocket 92 which meshes with wrapper wheel sprocket 54 to drivethe latter. The mounting described imposes a resilient pressure onsprocket 85 to maintain it in mesh while permitting it to move out ofmesh with chain 86 should the wrapper wheel 52 lock. The mounting thusprovides a form of clutch which renders it possible to change sprocket85 in a rapid and convenient manner.

In operation, one or more rolls of paper or like wrapping material aremounted on respective arms 55, such arms being loaded and adjusted to(1) single wrap with one roll, (2) single wrap with two rolls, (3)double wrap with two rolls, (4) double wrap with four rolls.

The wrapping material may be several different types. Each type usuallyhas a different tensile strength and, for most efficient use, should beWrapped on the pipeline at a tension near the breaking point. The rollbraking means described makes it possible to readily and quickly adjustthe tension of the wrapping web.

It will be observed that, with the machine mounted on pipeline 15, thelatter passes through the crawler carriage, coating shoe, and wrapperwheel, and that rotation of the shafts 82 and 89 will revolve thecrawler carriage and wrapper wheel. The crawler carriage, due to theinclined mounting of its traction wheels 22, will propel the machinealong the pipeline at a predetermined rate dependent upon the angle ofsetting of the wheels 22. The coating shoe applies a coating of desiredthickness in the manner described, and following application of thecoating, webs of wrapping material are trained about the coated pipelineand helically wrapped thereon.

It will be apparent that all wheels 22 are set at the same predeterminedangle. It will also be apparent that, when the carriage is revolved, ittravels forward a distance equal to the circumference of the pipemultiplied by the tangent of the wheel angle.

In order that the wrapping material be applied neatly, with the correctdegree of overlap, several factors are involved, namely:

(1) Wheel angle of the crawler carriage 6.

(2) Ratio of the number of teeth in the crawler drive sprocket 85 (S1)and in the crawler carriage sprocket 24 (S2).

(3) Ratio of the number of teeth in the wrapper wheel drive sprocket 92,(S3) and the number of chain links in the wrapper wheel sprocket 54(S4).

(4) Pitch of the helical pattern formed by the path of the rolls 61 whenthe Wrapping web 61a is spiral wrapped on the pipeline with the correctamount of overlap (P2,).

(5) Pitch of the helical pattern formed by the path of the crawlercarriage 17 (P1).

(6) Circumference of the pipeline 15 (C).

Thus, having determined the pitch of the wrapping web 61a, the number ofteeth in the various sprockets and the angle of the wheels 52 may becomputed in accordance with the following formula:

Ordinarily, the number of teeth in the crawler carriage sprocket 24 andthe number of links in the wrapper wheel sprocket 54 will be fixed. Thecorrect ratio can then be obtained by employing sprockets 85 and 92 withthe required number of teeth to provide the correct ratio and, ifnecessary, varying slightly the angle of wheels 22.

For the wrapper web 610 to be applied neatly, the angle between the axisof the wrapper arm 55 and the axis of the pipeline 15 is computed asfollows:

' Tangent 0:

It will be apparent that there has been provided a selfcontained compactmachine having sufiicient tractive power to satisfactorily meet alloperating conditions and adapted to provide the desired coating andwrapping in a neat, efiicient and wholly satisfactory manner. Moreover,the described arrangement of elements results in a substantial reductionin the number of parts and overall weight. It will also be apparent thatthe machine, having a low center of gravity, possesses fullyself-contained stability. Since the crawler carriage is: roller mounted,it is impossible for the machine to upset while on the pipeline.

I claim:

1. In a pipeline coating and wrapping machine, a frame, and a crawlercarriage comprising a pair of axially aligned end rings, a third ring inspaced axial alignment between said end rings and substantiallyequidistantly spaced therefrom, supporting plates connecting said rings,said rings providing a passage through the carriage for reception of apipeline, said frame having a plurality of series of rollers eachengaging the periphery of a respective one of said end rings torevolvably support the carriage in the frame, and a series of tractionwheels mounted on said plates between each said end ring and third ring,each said wheel having a tractive periphery extending into said passagefor engagement with said pipeline, and being angnlarly disposed withrespect to the lateral faces of said rings to permit circumferentialtraversal of said pipeline, said third ring having a driving sprocket onthe periphery thereof.

2. In a pipeline coating and wrapping machine, a frame, and wrappingmechanism revolvably carried by said frame and comprising a revolvablering, at least one wrapper roll arm carried by said ring in angularrelation thereto, a spool rotatably carried by said arm, and brakingmeans carried by the arm and engaging said spool, said braking meanscomprising a brake drum and a brake cover journalled on said arm, a shoepivotally carried by the drum, a lever for actuating the shoe pivoted tosaid cover and having a flexible, resilient connection with said shoe,and a rod fixed to the lever for operating said lever, said rod havingan angular portion arranged to ride upon a roll carried by said spool.

3. In a pipeline coating and wrapping machine, a frame, and wrappingmechanism revolvably carried by said frame and comprising a revolvablering, a wrapper roll arm pivotally carried by said ring in angularrelation thereto, a spool rotatably carried by said arm, braking meanscarried by the arm and engaging said spool, and means for resilientlyand adjustably retaining said arm in said angular relation comprising abracket fixed to the ring, a guide rod fixed t0 the bracket and supporting said arm, resilient means on the guide rod urging the arm in onedirection, and an adjustable rigid member fixed to the bracket andengaging the arm to limit its movement in said direction.

4. In a pipeline coating and wrapping machine, a frame, coatingmechanism mounted in the frame and comprising a pair of rings forming anannular container having an inner diameter approximately equal to theexternal diameter of said pipeline, one of said rings being perforateand the other being imperforate, and a third ring in spaced adjacentrelation to said perforate ring, said third ring having an innerdiameter greater than that of said first rings, and means for deliveringcoating liquid to said container.

5. In a pipeline coating and wrapping machine, a frame, coatingmechanism comprising a storage tank for coating liquid suspended fromsaid frame, a coating shoe carried by the frame and having an annularcontainer arranged to communicate with said pipeline, said shoecomprising a plurality of segments hingedly secured together, cablesconnecting said segments to hold the same in engagement with saidpipeline, and resilient means suspending said cables from the frame, aconduit for delivering coating liquid from said tank to said container,a pump in said conduit, a second pump mounted on the frame for supplyingcoating liquid to said tank, each said pump having an enclosing casing,a heat transfer liquid in each said casing and having said pump immersedthereon, and means for heating said heat transfer liquid,

6. In a pipeline coating and wrapping machine, a frame, a coating shoecarried by the frame and comprising an annular container having animperforate forward wall and a perforate rearward wall, each said wallconsisting of a plurality of segments hingedly secured together, and aspreading ring carried by said container and holding the innerperipheries of said container walls in close, yieldable engagement Withsaid pipeline comprising a cable having a loop connecting said segments,and resil-. ient, means applying tension to said cable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,718,757 Morris June 25, 1929 1,726,755 Morris Sept. 3, 1929 2,044,778Halstead June 23, 1936 2,070,925 Rolfs Feb. 16, 1937 2,271,528 PfohlFeb. 3, 1942 2,305,005 Henry- Dec. 15, 1942 2,583,819 Cummings Jan. 29,1952 Lungstrom Nov. 3, 1953.

